Moon Township, Pa. – The
Robert Morris University softball lost a pair of non-conference games, 8-0 and 7-6, to Bucknell Saturday afternoon at North Athletic Complex. The losses bring the Colonials record to 12-27 overall while the Bison improve to 23-10.
Abrielle McCartney and
Olivia Lorusso each picked up three hits in five at bats. McCartney knocked in a pair of runs while Lorusso scored twice and drove in one.
Natalie Higgins,
Stacey Capp and
Katie Isenberg all had two hits in the doubleheader.
Bucknell jumped on the Colonials right away in game one, scoring four runs in the top of the first. Four of the first five batters singled to stretch the lead to 2-0. Chaylen Andolino then singled in two runs to give the Bison a permanent lead. Lauren Hadley singled home another run in the second inning.
The Bison tacked on three more in the fourth inning. Meghan Kovac homered to left field before Christina Martinez and Andolino came through with run-scoring singles to push the margin to 8-0. RMU loaded the bases in the fourth inning, but came away empty after a fielder's choice, pop-up and a fly out.
Raeanne Geffert kept the Colonials bat in check, allowing just three hits over five innings to secure the win. RMU starter
Laura Coulter took the loss as she was charged with all eight runs in 3.1 innings of work.
In game two, singles by Capp and Lorusso were followed by a walk to McCartney in the first inning. Higgins came through with a bases loaded single to center to give the Colonials a 2-0 lead. The Bison charged ahead in the second, Andolino driving in Hadley. Then some chaos would lead to two more Bucknell runs as a fielder's choice by Antonellis scored one. An attempt to get Antonellis at second on the same play allowed Andolino to score and give Bucknell the 3-2 lead.
That lead was shortlived, however, as Robert Morris strung together five singles in the bottom half of the inning to score three times with two outs. Lorusso picked up one RBI driving in
Jordan Gurganus and McCartney followed with a single to center that brought home Lorusso and Capp to put the Colonials on top, 5-3. Again, Bucknell answered immediately. Christina Martinez roped a two-out single to center to score two runs and tie the game.
Briana Bunner led off the fifth inning with a single to center and moved to second on a sac bunt by Isenberg. Gurganus then lofted a fly ball to short left field that was mishandled. Bunner never slowed on the bases and lunged around a tag at home to put RMU on top, 6-5.
In the top of the sixth, however, Bucknell scored twice with two outs to take a lead they would not relinquish. Andolino walked to start the frame and eventually scored when Anna Gimmestad beat out an infield single. Meghan Kovac followed up with another base knock that brought home Gutkin who reached on an error.
Madison Riggle went the distance in game two. Only five of the runs she allowed were earned as she scattered 10 hits. Geffert also earned the game two win to improve to 14-5. She threw 2.1 innings of relief allowing just one hit over that span.
The Colonials continue non-conference action Monday, April 17, when they host the Canisius Golden Griffins in a single game at 5:00 p.m.
